Welcome

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is one of the 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario. It has jurisdiction over watersheds of all streams draining into the Thames River from Delaware to Lake St. Clair. The Southern boundary includes the watersheds of streams draining into Lake Erie, from the Talbot Creek watershed in the east, to the Two Creeks watershed in the west. Total area 3,275 square kilometres (1,264 square miles) and is home to 99,401 people. There are 10 member municipalities.

COVID-19 LTVCA Practices and Procedures: 

Please be advised that effective March 18th, 2020, the LTVCA Administration Office at 100 Thames St. in Chatham and the Resource Centre at Longwoods Road Conservation Area are closed to the public. Phones may not be answered, but messages are being retrieved.

Administration Office – 519-354-7310     Resource Centre – 519-264-2420

PURCHASING SOMETHING FROM THE LTVCA?  IN LIGHT OF COVID-19, we are not accepting in person purchases or payments.

Please email your purchase request (TREES, CAMPING, OR ANY KIND OF PERMIT PAYMENT) and/or order form to admin@ltvca.ca. DO NOT EMAIL credit card information, staff will contact you via phone (please ensure you have included your phone number in your email) to complete payment. For those who prefer to pay by cheque, you may mail your cheque and order form to – 100 Thames Street, Chatham ON N7L 2Y8.

All departments will continue to provide services to the public. Conservation Authority staff will be reporting to work or working remotely during this time and members of the public are asked to communicate with employees by telephone or email. STAFF DIRECTORY Face to face meetings will be limited to specific engagements arranged by staff in advance. LTVCA staff will continue to participate in meetings through alternative means including teleconference and webinar. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause however, the health and safety of staff and our communities is of paramount importance.

The Province of Ontario has declared a second provincial emergency to address covid-19.  Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted  purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for work where the work cannot be done remotely. 

You can find more information here:

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59922/ontario-declares-second-provincial-emergency-to-address-covid-19-crisis-and-save-lives

Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the Provincewide Shutdown

OUR CONSERVATION AREAS REMAIN OPEN FOR DAY USE TO THE PUBLIC WITH LIMITED SERVICES/FACILITIES:

NEW GATHERING LIMITS:
Due to the recent increase in cases and to ensure continued health and safety, there is a new limit on the number of people allowed to attend unmonitored social gatherings and organized public events across Ontario.

• -no indoor events or gatherings except for with the people you live with
• -outdoor organized public events and social gatherings maximum 5 people

TRAIL ETIQUETTE:
-schedule your trail use to avoid times of high use, conservation areas are generally open from 9 a.m. until sunset 7 days a week.
-maintain your social distance of minimum 2 metres
-no group interaction
-maximum outdoor social gatherings 5 people
-single file activity only
-wear a mask outdoors if you cannot social distance 2 metres
-when passing people, step as far to the side as possible and pass on the left
-expect and respect other users
-keep all pets on a leash and pick up after your pet
-remove all your litter and pet litter from the conservation area – there are no garbage cans on site
-abide by all Conservation Area Regulations

ALL PUBLIC WASHROOMS IN CONSERVATION AREAS ARE CLOSED:
Please note that our public washrooms at Longwoods Road, Big Bend, C.M. Wilson and Sharon Creek Conservation Areas will NOT be open during the Provincial Emergency and stay-at-home-order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

THERE IS NO DRINKING WATER 

Camping reservations open for the 2020 season on March 2, 2020 at 9 a.m.

Sharon Creek Conservation Area only

Pay for Day Use Parking

Enter Zone 3022